Ireland's best driving roads

California Dreamer

For the last few years i have done some form of a banger rally across Europe. Long days of driving, few cold beers at night and have made some life long friends who are fellow petrol heads.

I do not think I will be travelling far this year but if I wanted to take a trip around Ireland from a starting point in Dublin doing my best to avoud motorways could anyone offer ideas of routes in certain parts of the country. Ideally would like to try and do a 360 of Ireland over 4/5 days.

Open to as many wild and crazy suggestions as possible.

Is there a mountain pass over Carranuntoohil?

donvito99

I've always enjoyed the N59 out of Galway (against the traffic!) and then down towards Roundstone/Ballyconneely.

Acquiescence

A lot of the Irish photorally points lead to some cracking roads I keep meaning to revisit in a car.

Connemara direction as mentioned in late September when the tourists drop off is some of the most fun you can have on public roads imo. Assuming you avoid the occasional stray sheep.

biko

Ring of Kerry

Be right back

Moll's gap which is part of the Ring of Kerry.

nthclare

Old Galway road, onto Loughreagh, cut through Gort, Loughbunny, Corofin, Ballyvaughan, Fanore,Doolin,The Cliff's of Moher, Lahinch,Spanish point, Doonbeg,Kilkee,Loophead, Kilrush,Killimer car ferry, onto Kerry...then, Tarbert, Listowel,Tralee,Dingle peninsula...

My favourite drive to be honest

Harry Palmr

Lemybrien to Carrick on Suir.

Rodin

California Dreamer wrote: »

For the last few years i have done some form of a banger rally across Europe. Long days of driving, few cold beers at night and have made some life long friends who are fellow petrol heads.

I do not think I will be travelling far this year but if I wanted to take a trip around Ireland from a starting point in Dublin doing my best to avoud motorways could anyone offer ideas of routes in certain parts of the country. Ideally would like to try and do a 360 of Ireland over 4/5 days.

Open to as many wild and crazy suggestions as possible.

Is there a mountain pass over Carranuntoohil?

No.

arccosh

Loop from Galway City and back

Barna to Costelloe to Lettermullan....then track back to Costelloe, out to Ma'am's Cross to Oughterard....direct to Galway if stuck for time, via Carrowmoreknock if time allows

arccosh

Sallygap and Dublin mountains

Esel

Antrim Coast Road.

arccosh

Backroads to the base of Mount Leinster

colm_mcm

The Vee

Corkscrew hill in Clare is fun too.

Stephenc66

Head for Kerry some of the finest driving roads in the country.

Ubbquittious

Barnesmore gap, Donegal
Ramelton to Portsalon
R251 past Glenveagh

R572 Glengarriff to Castletownbere
Conor pass, Healy pass
Dunquin to Ballyferriter

Honourable mention to some roads that run almost parallel to the motorways like the R639. Grand straight and almost deserted country roads where you can stop off and duck into the forest for a stroll or have a look at some ghost town-like disused filling stations

Irish_rat

California Dreamer wrote: »

Is there a mountain pass over Carranuntoohil?

No but the Ballaghisheen pass which goes beside it is stunning. Not too many tourists the last time I drove it from Waterville.

Personally I'd avoid ROK near Killarney pure tourist trap and too much traffic and that's from a person from Kerry. If you do end up down here drive around valentia it's unreal and you can drive to up to its very highest point.

Connemara is more wild and less traffic around Clifden really enjoy anytime I drive out that direction.

Healy pass and ring of beara is nice.

Ballina/Killaloe is worth a spin around Lough Derg if near Limerick. Vantage point near Portroe then to park up.

Loads of roads in Donegal near Dungloe that are fun to explore.

selectamatic

Boa island road in Cavan gives great views of lower lough Erne.

biko

The Slieve Gullion Forest Park Drive - a section of the longer Ring of Gullion driving/cycling route.

Rodin

Ring of Beara beats Ring of Kerry all day long

Rowley Birkin QC

https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:53.139956,-6.316598

Rowley Birkin QC

https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:52.2587326,-7.9385148

chicorytip

Bantry to Mizen Head.

California Dreamer

Some great suggestions there, thanks so much!

The goal is to buy something for about €500 and not care if we trash it, burn out the clutch or gearbox etc. Scrap it at the end of the trip. So ideally we buy somehting that has a bit of tax and nct on it.

http://www.wackyrally.co.uk/

We have done these routes a few times across Europe and it has been epic fun.